"Neither did I ever expect anything from her; and yet, who knows,
if I had liked--I have only seen her once in my life; and though as a
rule people are not prepossessed in my favour at a first interview"
(hereupon she gave me a malicious look), "she seems to have had no
reason to complain of me;--in fact, if I had only cultivated the
acquaintance, probably at this moment my name would be in her will
for a good round sum."

"What! you have seen the old gossip?" interrupted General von Zwenken,
"and you have never told me of it. When and where have you met her?"

"At the beginning of this year, when I went to Utrecht on certain
business about which it is not necessary to trouble cousin Leopold."

"She never likes to hear her good deeds spoken of," the General
murmured to me.

"Oh, it was only a simple duty I had to fulfil; I had to consult
the celebrated Dr. D. about an unfortunate woman who had lost her
reason. At his door I had an altercation with his man-servant, who
wished to put me off till next day under the pretext that the hour for
consultation was passed, and that his master was taking his luncheon
with visitors. However, I insisted upon his taking in my card, and
finally I obtained admission to the dining-room. Dr. D. politely
invited me to take luncheon with them, and introduced me to two
elderly ladies, one his sister, and the other his sister's friend. As
I was very hungry, I accepted without ceremony. I was soon sensible
that his sister's friend was observing my every motion with sharp,
penetrating eyes. Her conversation was amusing. She was lively,
and criticised persons and events cleverly, though with unsparing
severity. This was just to my taste, and excited me to the contest,
till, from repartee to repartee, we got almost to a dispute. It was
my great-aunt Sophia in person, as I afterwards learnt; and just fancy
her mixing up her own name in a malicious manner in the conversation,
and then asking me if I knew her, and what my opinion of her was! I
simply answered: 'I had heard her spoken of; that there had been
quarrels between her and my relations, but that I did not think it
fair, on my part, to attack her behind her back in the presence of
strangers.' She answered that she approved of my conduct. The doctor,
who had for some time been appearing ill at ease, now invited me to
go to his surgery. After the consultation I met the old lady in the
passage; she invited me to accompany her as far as t